"Ah, but you don't know my history. I had such a happy childhood. I drained my cup of bliss before I was a woman, and there is nothing left for me but the dregs, and they--they are dust and ashes." There was an intensity of bitterness in her tone that moved him beyond his power of self-control. That she--so fair, so lovely, so deeply dear to him already; she for whom life should be one summer-day of unclouded gladness--that she should give expression to a rooted sorrow was more than his patience could bear. "Violet, you must not speak thus; you wound me to the heart. Oh, my love, my love, you were born to be the giver of gladness, the centre of joy and delight. Grief should never touch you; sorrow and pain should never come near you. You are a creature of happiness and light." "Don't!" cried Vixen vehemently. "Oh, pray don't. It is all vain--useless. My life is marked out for me. No one can alter it. Pray do not lower yourself by one word more. You will be sorry--angry with yourself and me--afterwards." "Violet, I must speak." "To what end? My fate is as fixed as the stars. No one can change it." "No mortal perhaps, Violet. But Love can. Love is a god. Oh, my darling, I have learnt to love you dearly and fondly in this little while, and I mean to win you. It shall go hard with me if I do not succeed. Dear love, if truth and constancy can conquer fate, I ought to be able to win you. There is no one else, is there, Violet?" he asked falteringly, with his eyes upon her downcast face. A burning spot glowed and faded on her cheek before she answered him. "Can you not see how empty my life is?" she asked with a bitter laugh. "No; there is no one else. I stand quite alone. Death took my father from me; your friend has robbed me of my mother. My old playfellow, Roderick Vawdrey, belongs to his cousin. I belong to nobody." "Let me have you then, Violet. Ah, if you knew how I would cherish you! You should be loved so well that you would fancy yourself the centre of the universe, and that all the planets revolved in the skies only to please you. Love, let me have you--priceless treasure that others know not how to value. Let me keep and guard you." "I would not wrong you so much as to marry you without loving you, and I shall never love any more," said Vixen, with a sad steadfastness that was more dispiriting than the most vehement protestation. "Why not?" "Because I spent all my store of love while I was a child. I loved my father--ah, I cannot tell you how fondly. I do not think there are many fathers who are loved as he was. I poured out all my treasures of affection at his feet. I have no love left for a husband." "What, Violet, not if your old friend Roderick Vawdrey were pleading?" asked Lord Mallow. It was an unlucky speech. If Lord Mallow had had a chance, which he had not, that speech would have spoiled it. Violet started to her feet, her cheeks crimson, her eyes flashing.